SNS Reina Mercedes [Stereograph]

Name/Title

SNS Reina Mercedes [Stereograph]

Description

The Spanish Cruiser “Reina Mercedes” - the day after raising - Santiago Bay, Cuba.

Context

At about 2000 hours on 4 July 1898, Reina Mercedes slipped her moorings and proceeded into the channel. Just before midnight, the battleship USS Massachusetts spotted her and, together with the battleship USS Texas opened fire. Although Reina Mercedes took many hits, her scuttling crew stayed on course, dropped anchor, and detonated their scuttling charges, but Reina Mercedes drifted to the eastern edge of the channel before sinking, going down in a location that failed to block the channel.” - Chaplain Harry Jones, The Battle of Santiago, onboard the USS Texas